Note : You are in Page 3 (Halong City), start with Page 1.
- Page 1 – Halong Bay
- Page 2 – Cat Ba Island
- Page 3 – Halong City
- Page 4 – Hai-Phong City
Halong City- Orientation – Maps
Map 1 :
Map 2 :
Map 3 :
Interactive Map : Tourist attractions + Transport
- Points in Red : Transport
- Points in Blue : Tourist Attractions
Map 4 :
Map 5 :
How is Halong City ?
Halong city has 2 parts and a huge bridge between the 2 parts. It is almost like 2 different big cities because of this separation.
The left part (if you look on a map from the sea) is more alive at night, with a promenade for tourists.
But it is at the right part that there is an amazing view over the sea + interesting fish market + interesting museum.
On both sides, there is the attraction park of Sun World. The “big wheel” is on the right side :
and the cable car of Sun World runs between the 2 city parts :
There are not a lot of tourists in this city, except groups of Chinese who stay mainly in the left part. The reason there are no tourists is because usually people are arriving to Halong Bay area just for an organised cruise and then returning to Hanoi.
Is Halong City worth a visit ?
Yes. The view over the sea from the promenade is like from a cruise ship, simply amazing. The fishing activity is also interesting and the museum “Quảng Ninh” is one of the best in Vietnam. Of course that you need time to arrive here from Cat-Ba island or Haiphong city (see how) and also moving in town necessitates a Taxi.
How to Arrive to Halong City ?
I have described it on the first page, how to arrive to Halong Bay area.
How to Move in Halong City ?
Not that easy, the distances are big and you need a Taxi.
The bridge that separates the 2 parts of the city is huge. I crossed the bridge on foot, but I was the only one and it was not that fun because there were motorbikes passing beside me all the time (who should be on this lane ? pedestrians or motorbikes ? )
Anyway, it took me about an hour to cross this bridge because the bridge is high and you need to find the roads that lead to it.
By Taxi or Grab
This is the way to move in Halong city (at least if you need to move to the other side of the bridge). It costs about 70,000 Dong. There is Grab in in this town but not a lot of cars available.
By Foot
Only for a short distance, within the same side of the city.
By Bus
Not practical inside Halong City. There are buses on the main road going to the direction of Hai-Phong city.
Where to Stay in Halong City ? – Hotels
The concentration of Hotels in Halong City, may look like this :
Since it is relatively difficult to move between the 2 sides of the city (you need a Taxi), the location of the hotel has consequences (relax, not dramatic ones).
Option1 :On the left part of the city (marked as 1 on the map above)
On this side of the city you will feel less lonely at night. It is animated along the promenade in front of the sea. There are big hotels on the first line and there are small hotels in the core of the city, inside.
See Hotels in Halong city. After you click and fill the dates, you will see a Map icon. Click on the Map icon and look for hotels in the zone you want. The Map is a great way to search for the right hotel (you immediately see the price and the score received by visitors).
Option 2 :On the right part of the city, city center (marked as 2 on the map above)
There are small hotels between the commercial streets of the city. On this side of the city you will be close to the amazing promenade with view over the sea, close to a park, close to Vincom mall and close to the museum Quảng Ninh.
This part is not super animated at night. You can go at night to the mall Vincom or to a local bar or make a ride by taxi to the left part of the city (cross the bridge) or just relax for the next day.
See Hotels in Halong city. After you click and fill the dates, you will see a Map icon. Click on the Map icon and look for hotels in the zone you want. The Map is a great way to search for the right hotel (you immediately see the price and the score received by visitors).
Option 3 :On the right part of the city, new neighborhood. (marked as 3 on the map above)
It is a new neigborhood and there are a few hotels here. It is a pleasant area and it is at a walking distance of 20 minutes to the Vincom mall and the amazing sea promenade.
See Hotels in Halong city. After you click and fill the dates, you will see a Map icon. Click on the Map icon and look for hotels in the zone you want. The Map is a great way to search for the right hotel (you immediately see the price and the score received by visitors).
There is in this neighborhood for example, the hotel : The Confetti Hotel
How is the Climate in Halong city ?
See the first page : How is the climate in Halong Bay.
What to Eat in Halong City ?
For me it was the worst place in Vietnam regarding the culinary experience. Even not one decent place for pizza, not to mention more sophisticated western cuisine.
If you are not vegetarian like me, you can eat stuff of this kind :
There is a lot of fishing activity in this town and there is no lack of fish in the restaurants.
To survive, I had to eat simple vegetables, Vietnamese style :
And drink Coconut juice :
On the right side of the city, there is the coffee the Wander Station with great coffee and an owner who speak good english and is helping tourists with information (he helped me to reserve a place on a minibus to Hai-Phong city). It is a regular meeting point for expatriates who teach the local kids english. So, if you are lost, come here.
Where to go out at Night in Halong City ?
The left side of the city is more animated. There are little restaurants on a promenade, with music from some bars :
A possible occupation for the evening : The Sun World entertainment park, it closes around 22:00. You will “fly” with the cable car over the sea and enjoy other attractions.
If you are living on the right side of the city, you can approach the illuminated bridge, buy a beer and dream about all the people who are living on the other side.
What to Visit in Halong City ?
Town Center (on both sides) + Promenades
Both sides of the city have commercial streets, see Map 2 above.
Both sides of the city have a promenade, in front of the sea.
On the “right side” there is a splendid view of the typical “island-rocks” in the water. The view is between the mall Vincom and till the museum Quảng Ninh.
Visit the park near the mall Vincom, there is a pedestrian bridge that makes a loop in the park.
You can enter the Vincom mall and eat something in the restaurants upstairs.
Fish market
At the left of the Vincom mall, there is a fish market.
What a contrast with the modern mall, it is another world :
The Octupus in this market, don’t have a nice ending :
Beside the market, you can see the fishing activity :
It is very colourful :
There are Octopus being raised in the waters :
And big ships with fishes, on the promenade
How to get there ?
Located near Vincom mall, the right part of the city. See on the Maps above.
By walking
If you live nearby.
By Taxi or Grab (car or motorbike)
The main way to arrive to places in Halong city
Museum – “Quảng Ninh”
One of the best museums in Vietnam, very ordered and clear explanations in English and French. The museum was designed by a French architect. Entry fee 40,000 Dong.
The museum is related to the region of Halong Bay in many aspects, but also to Vietnam in general.
It is also about the fishing activity in the region
With many specimen of fish and insects and other animals :
It is about the war of Vietnam :
With clear information about the different aspects of the war :
It is about the coal industry in the region :
With nice tunnels to give the feeling of a coal mine :
The museum is also about cultures in Vietnam :
There is also a section in the museum, about the great leader : Ho Chi Minh.
How to get there ?
Located 1 Km from Vincom mall. See on the Maps above.
By walking
If you live nearby.
By Taxi or Grab (car or motorbike)
The main way to arrive to places in Halong city
Sun World – Attraction park and cable car
The attraction park is on both sides of the city, the cable car connects the 2 parts.
The cabin of this cable car is big, it has 2 floors.
On the right side of the city is the big wheel and a hall with electronic games. On the left side are roller coasters and a water park.
“Sun World” is a Vietnamese company that manage several (huge) attraction parks in Vietnam : Ba-Na hills – Danang, Nha-Trang, Sapa and more.
How to get there ?
Located on both sides of the city. See on the Maps above.
By walking
The left side of the attraction park is on the promenade, a very central place.
The right side of the attraction park is on a hill, it is difficult to arrive by foot.
By Cable Car
The two parts of the park are linked with a cable car, a main attraction that goes over the river.
By Taxi or Grab (car or motorbike)
The main way to arrive to places in Halong city
Cruises from Halong City
If you came to the region, it is also in order to participate in a cruise and see the special waters.
You can book a cruise online with Booking.com, as explained on the first page.
Most of the cruises are starting from the boat terminal at “Dao Tuan Chao”, the “island”, 15 Km to the left of Halong city. See on the Maps, above.
Now, Continue To :
More on Vietnam :
- How to Visit Vietnam ? – Transport, Best Time, Priorities…
- How to Reserve : Trains, Buses and Flights in Vietnam ?
- How much does it Cost to Visit Vietnam? Common Prices
- How to get a Visa for Vietnam ?
- Where to Stay, What to Visit, How to Arrive to :
- How is the Internet in Vietnam ?
- Is it Safe to visit Vietnam?
- What to Pack for the trip to Vietnam ?
On Thailand :
- Bangkok – What to Visit, Where to Stay, Transport…
- The Islands in Thailand – Which one to choose, Where to stay, How to arrive ?
- Chiang Mai – What to Visit, Where to Stay, Transport…
- Pattaya city – What to Visit, Where to Stay, Transport…
Other Stuff :
- What to Pack ? the visual list that will help you prepare the suitcase.
- Visit my Vegetarian Page. Why be Vegetarian ? What to eat ?
- Visit my Salsa Dance Page. Salsa main Styles. Why Dance Salsa ?
- See City Information about 2 more cool cities: Barcelona and Tel-Aviv.
- Listen to nice Songs with translation in French, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew.
- Listen to basic Words In Spanish, French, Hebrew
If you find incorrect data on this page, like a restaurant that has closed or a big river that has moved or you want to tell me something, please write me to contact.
